OBSERVATORY

Photograph courtesy of NASA

By Stanford Cheung

POLAROID 

From the corridor, in awe, or so from above, 

wandering the scene

that protrudes; 

From the film opening

a loose line of aftermaths.

And before your eyes:

the dream that snaps itself out — that dictates

a reflection of falling, 

as if the reflection where you stand

is still, yet alive.

HALO

Further out,  

and further than the 

sun, which sails

An insurrection 

  far too wide;

Beneath,

and while glistening 

for that very brief lift to pause. 

That there, over here, with a refraction of knowing

Circling our spring leaves.

空间

The sound of transmission towers 

that kiss the air

Mania in the sky 

to twirl the polaroid ashore

How feeble in love  

 or long a wave

And the wave back 

More tidy than mutual

All left in us 

All the city that loved

us further

if only 

beating 

in excess.

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Stanford Cheung is a poet and musician from Toronto. He is the author of the collection Demonstrator (Andata Express, 2020) and Structures from the Still (Akinoga, 2018). Among his collaborative books include We Could Be Anything (Crevasse, 2019), Comfort of Malice (Inspiritus, 2018), and Any Seam or Needlework (The Operating System, 2016). His poetry appears in anthologies and magazines such as the Tokyo Poetry Journal, Nomadic Journal, Otoliths, Center for Contemporary Art Kitakyushu, Ricepaper and elsewhere.